Cargo retention device

ABSTRACT

A retainer for a vehicle cargo area that is bounded in part by a floor and a door moveable between open and closed positions includes a retaining member spanning at least a portion of the cargo area, a pivot feature operably associated with the retaining member, and a retaining feature that yieldably retains the retaining member in its second position to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area. The retaining member pivots about the pivot feature relative to the cargo area between a first position and a second position wherein the retaining member is inclined relative to the floor of the cargo area. When the door is open the retainer is normally in its second position to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a cargo area for a motorvehicle, and more particularly to a device for retaining cargo.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many vehicles include cargo areas having a relatively flat floor leadingto a door, such a liftgate, tailgate or hatchback. The door typicallypivots away from the flat floor to facilitate access to the cargo area.As a result of the relatively flat cargo area floor, some objects storedin the cargo area may shift during vehicle travel or otherwise come torest against the door. Upon movement of the door away from the floor,these objects may roll, slide or otherwise fall out of the cargo area.Particularly with a hatchback or liftgate that pivots vertically awayfrom the cargo floor, it can be difficult to prevent cargo from fallingout of the vehicle upon opening the liftgate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A retainer for a vehicle cargo area is provided that is bounded in partby a floor and a door moveable between open and closed positionsincludes a retaining member spanning at least a portion of the cargoarea, a pivot feature operably associated with the retaining member, anda retaining feature that yieldably retains the retaining member in itssecond position to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area. Theretaining member pivots about the pivot feature relative to the cargoarea between a first position and a second position wherein theretaining member is inclined relative to the floor of the cargo area.When the door is open the retainer is normally in its second position tofacilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area.

In one exemplary embodiment, the retaining member is displaced from itssecond position at least partially toward its first position when thedoor is closed. Under the force of the biasing member, the retainingmember automatically moves towards its second position as the door ismoved at least partially toward its open position. This automaticallyraises the retaining member to its second position upon opening of thedoor to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the retaining member remains in its secondposition when the door is closed, but can be moved away from thatposition to facilitate loading and unloading cargo from the cargo area.

In one exemplary embodiment, the door is a liftgate that pivots upwardlyand downwardly relative to the cargo area and the retaining member spansthe gap between sidewalls of the cargo area and is disposed adjacent toan end of the cargo area adjacent to the door. Accordingly, uponmovement of the door upwardly away from the cargo area from its closedposition towards its open position, the retaining member moves to itssecond position wherein it is raised upwardly from the cargo area floorproviding a lip or partial wall to prevent the contents of the cargoarea from rolling, sliding or otherwise falling out of the cargo areabefore the operator of the upwardly swinging door is able to reach them.Although not necessary, the retaining member preferably pivots bothinwardly toward the cargo area and outwardly away from the cargo area tofacilitate loading and unloading cargo. The retaining device may alsoinclude a locking feature, which permits the retaining member to bereleasibly locked in a desired position, such as generally flush withthe cargo floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims andaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle cargo areaincluding one presently preferred embodiment of a retaining device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the vehicle cargo area with a doorenclosing a portion of the cargo area shown in its open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled portion 3 ofFIG. 2 with the vehicle door shown in its closed position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view like FIG. 3 showing some roundcargo items being retained by the retaining device;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a large cargo item beingslidably removed form the cargo area; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of a vehicle cargoarea with a vehicle door shown in its closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1–3 illustrate a vehicle10 having a cargo area 12 including a floor 14, opposed sidewalls 16,(only one of which is shown) extending from the floor, usually a roof 18and a door 20 providing access to the cargo area 12 from the exterior ofthe vehicle 10. In the embodiment shown, the door 20 is a liftgate whichpivots about a hinge 22 adjacent to the roof from a lowered, closedposition to a raised, opened position, as is known in the art.

A retaining device 24 is provided in or adjacent to the cargo area 12along an outward edge 26 of the cargo area 12 in the area of the door 20when the door is closed. In one presently preferred embodiment, theretaining member 24 includes a generally flat panel that extends betweenthe sidewalls 16 and is carried by the vehicle 10 generally adjacent tothe floor 14. The retaining device 24 includes a pivot feature 28 whichmay be one or more shafts 30 that are preferably carried by theretaining member, co-axially aligned and disposed in pockets 31 in thesidewalls 16 or other structure of the vehicle to permit pivoted motionor rotation of the retaining member 24 about an axis 32. The retainingmember 24 is moveable from a first position ‘a’ that facilitates loadingand unloading cargo from the cargo area, and a second position ‘b’wherein the retaining member 24 is inclined at an acute included anglerelative to the floor 14 to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargoarea 12. In the embodiment shown, the retaining member 24 is preferablygenerally perpendicular to the floor 14 when in its second position ‘b’to provide a raised or upstanding lip or wall that prevents objects fromrolling, sliding or otherwise falling out of the vehicle from theoutward edge 26 of the cargo area 12.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to facilitate loading and unloadingcargo from the cargo area 12, the retaining member 24 may pivot from itssecond position ‘b’ both inwardly relative to the cargo area to itsfirst position ‘a’ and outwardly of the cargo area to a third position‘c’. As best shown in FIG. 5, then in its third position ‘c’ theretaining member 24 is preferably generally flat to permit cargo 35 tobe slidably removed from the cargo area 12. The retaining member 24 isshown in solid lines in its second position, and in its first and thirdpositions is shown in phantom lines. A retaining feature preferably isprovided to releasably or yieldably retain the retaining member in itssecond position ‘b’. The retaining feature may be a biasing member 34that yieldably biases the retaining member 24 toward its second position‘b’ and away from its first position ‘a’. In an embodiment wherein theretaining member 24 can also be moved to a third position ‘c’ (such asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2), the biasing member 34 may also yieldably biasthe retaining member 24 away from its third position ‘c’ and toward itssecond position ‘b’. Accordingly, the normal position of the retainingmember 24 is its second position ‘b’ so that unless acted on by anotherforce or object, the retaining member 24 will preferably assume itssecond position ‘b’. In one embodiment, the biasing member 34 includes atorsion spring 36 which biases the retaining member 24 away from itsfirst position ‘a’, and a second torsion spring 38 which biases theretaining member away from its third position ‘c’ (see FIG. 1). Thefirst and second torsion springs 36, 38 may be disposed on opposite endsof the retaining member 24 such as being disposed generally aboutoppositely extending and coaxially aligned shafts 30 about which theretaining member pivots. The retaining feature may include structures orapparatus other than springs, such as a detent mechanism, or releasablelatch that resists at least some force tending to move the retainingmember out of its second position ‘b’ but may ultimately be overcome topermit the retaining member to move from its second position.

As best shown in FIG. 3, when the liftgate 20 is in its closed position,a portion of the tailgate preferably engages the retaining member 24 andmoves the retaining member 24 out of its second position ‘b’ and towardits first position ‘a’ against the force provided on the retainingmember by the biasing member 36. Accordingly, the biasing member 36provides a force urging the retaining member 24 against the liftgate 20when the liftgate is closed. As the liftgate 20 is opened, the biasingmember 36 maintains the retaining member 24 in contact with the liftgateuntil the liftgate is sufficiently open that the retaining member 24assumes its second position ‘b’ under force of the biasing member.Accordingly, the retaining member 24 automatically moves to its secondposition ‘b’ as the liftgate 20 is opened to provide a barrier againstobjects 35 (see e.g. FIG. 4) falling out of the vehicle as the liftgateis initially opened. The retaining member 24 may be moved fully to itsfirst position ‘a’ by the liftgate 20 when the liftgate is closed, andan outer edge 40 of the retaining member 24 may be generally flush withan inside surface 42 of the liftgate 20 so that objects in the cargoarea 12 are not resting on or engaged with an outer surface 41 of theretaining member 24 when the liftgate 20 is closed. Of course, otherconstructions and arrangements are possible and contemplated herein. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 6, when the liftgate 20 is closed, it may notdisplace the retaining member 24 from its second position ‘b’ at all sothat the retaining member 24 remains generally upright and adjacent thecargo area 12 even when the liftgate is closed. Or, the liftgate 20 mayengage and move the retaining member 24 any desired angular amount fromits second position ‘b’, including all the way to its first position‘a’, as previously noted.

To limit intrusion of the retaining member 24 and prevent raising thethreshold to the cargo area 12, the floor 14 may include a recess 44 inwhich the retaining member 24 is received when moved to its firstposition ‘a’, and/or its third position ‘c’, as desired. The recess 44may be the same depth as the retaining member 24 is thick so that whenin its first position ‘a’ the retaining member 24 is generally flushwith the adjacent portion of the floor 14. Likewise, when folded intoits third position ‘c’ the retaining member 24 may also be generallyflush with the cargo area floor 14. If desired, a lock 50 (FIGS. 1 and2) can be provided to releasably maintain the retaining member 24 in,for example, its first position ‘a’ wherein it may be generally flushwith the cargo floor 14. The lock 50 may be a resilient finger with acatch that overlies a portion of the retaining member 24, or aspring-loaded lock which may be set by depressing the retaining member24 against the spring and released by likewise pressing the retainingmember 24 against the spring. The retaining member 24 may be releasablylocked in its first position, for example, to facilitate loading cargointo the cargo area 12. Upon closing or opening the liftgate, theliftgate 20 may release the lock 50 so that when the liftgate 20 issubsequently opened, the retaining member 24 automatically is moved toits second position under force of the biasing member 36. Of course, theretaining member 24 could remain locked until the lock 50 is manuallyremoved, if desired. The retaining member 24 may also be releasablyconnected to the vehicle 10 so that it may be removed from the vehicleif desired.

Accordingly, cargo which is loose and/or shifts during use of thevehicle, and which moves toward or leans against the liftgate 20 priorto opening the liftgate 20 can be effectively retained within the cargoarea 12 upon opening the liftgate. The retaining member 24 preferablyremains in its second position when the liftgate is closed or isautomatically disposed in its second position ‘b’ upon opening of theliftgate. The retaining member preferably can be readily folded to thegenerally flat first or third positions, or any angle in between, toreduce interference to loading and unloading cargo from the cargo area12. The retaining member 24 may also be releasably retained in anyposition, as desired. In one presently preferred embodiment, theactuation of the retaining member 24 to its second position to retaincargo, is accomplished independent of user interaction and preferablyoccurs automatically as the vehicle liftgate is opened.

While certain preferred embodiments have been shown and described,persons of ordinary skill in this art will readily recognize that thepreceding description has been set forth in terms of description ratherthan limitation, and that various modifications and substitutions can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Theinvention is defined by the following claims.

1. A vehicle comprising: a pair of opposed sidewalls, a floor disposedbetween the sidewalls, a door movable relative to the sidewalls betweenan open position and a closed position, the closed position beingcharacterized in that the door spans the sidewalls adjacent to the floorto define a boundary of a cargo area, the cargo area, being furtherdefined by the sidewalls and the floor; a retaining member movablebetween an at least partially retracted first position and an extendedsecond position spanning at least a portion of the cargo area betweenthe sidewalls adjacent to the boundary such that the door engages theretaining member and moves the retaining member away from the secondposition and toward the first position when the door is moved into theclosed position; and a biasing member that yieldably biases theretaining member toward the second position.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1which also includes a pivot feature operably associated with theretaining member to permit rotation of the retaining member relative tothe floor and between the first and second positions.
 3. The vehicle ofclaim 2 wherein the pivot feature connects the retaining member to thefloor and defines an axis about which the retaining member moves betweenthe first and second positions.
 4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein thefloor includes a recess in which at least a portion of the retainingmember is received when the retaining member is in the first position tolimit the extent to which the retaining member extends above a portionof the floor adjacent to the recess.
 5. The vehicle of claim 4 whereinan upper surface of the retaining member is flush with the portion ofthe floor adjacent to the recess when the retaining member is in thefirst position.
 6. The vehicle of claim 1 further including a lockingfeature, operably associated with the retaining member, to selectivelyengage the retaining member and releasably maintain the retaining memberin the first position.
 7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the lockingfeature releases the retaining member when the door is moved to theclosed position.
 8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the biasing memberincludes a first spring that yieldably biases the retaining member awayfrom the first position and toward the second position.
 9. The vehicleof claim 8 wherein the retaining member is also movable to a thirdposition generally diametrically opposed to the first position.
 10. Theretainer of claim 9 wherein the biasing member includes a second springthat yieldably biases the retaining member away from the third positionand toward the second position.
 11. In a vehicle having a cargo areadefined by at least portions of a pair of opposed sidewalls, a floordisposed between the sidewalls, and a door which, when moved from anopen position to a closed position, spans the sidewalls to therebydefine a boundary of the cargo area adjacent to the floor, theimprovement comprising: a retaining member on the vehicle movablebetween a first retracted position which allows a cargo in the cargoarea to slide across the boundary, and an extended position in which theretaining member spans at least a portion of the cargo area between theopposed sidewalls adjacent to the boundary to prevent the cargo fromsliding across the boundary, the extended position being furthercharacterized in that the retaining member projects above the floor ofthe cargo area and the door engages the retaining member as the door ismoved into the closed position to thereby move the retaining membertoward the first retracted position; and a biasing member adapted toyieldably bias the retaining member away from the first retractedposition and toward the extended position.
 12. The vehicle of claim 11wherein the retaining member is pivotally mounted on the floor to permitrotation of the retaining member relative to the floor between the firstretracted position and the extended position.
 13. The vehicle of claim12 wherein a first surface of the retaining member is flush with aportion of the floor adjacent to the boundary when the retaining memberis in the first refracted position.
 14. The vehicle of claim 12 whereinthe retaining member is also movable to a second retracted positiongenerally diametrically opposed to the first retracted position.
 15. Thevehicle of claim 14 wherein a second surface of the retaining member isflush with the portion of the floor adjacent to the boundary when theretaining member is in the second retracted position.
 16. The vehicle ofclaim 14 wherein the second retracted position is characterized in thatthe retaining member underlies at least a lower portion of the door whenthe retaining member is in the second retracted position.
 17. Thevehicle of claim 14 wherein the biasing member further yieldably biasesthe retaining member away from the second retracted position and towardthe extended position.
 18. The vehicle of claim 11 further including alocking feature, operably associated with the retaining member, toselectively engage the retaining member and releasably maintain theretaining member in the first retracted position.
 19. The vehicle ofclaim 18 wherein the locking feature releases the retaining member whenthe door is moved to the closed position.